THE WILL TO FIGHT

"Just hang on a little longer... I'm almost done," the girl thought, focusing her energy as she fused her purple Renshi into a glowing circular sigil between her palms.

Meanwhile, Alfie struggled to hold his ground. He charged at the Alpha darkside spirit, swinging his blade, but was effortlessly swatted to the ground by a single strike. The beast raised its leg again, ready to crush him.

This time, Alfie couldn't dodge. He raised his arms in a desperate attempt to shield himself, but the force of the blow slammed into his chest, sending waves of pain through his body.

"Aaaagh!" Alfie screamed, coughing as the air left his lungs.

"This is bad. If this keeps up… he's going to die!" the girl panicked, her hands trembling mid-spell.

Alfie lay motionless. His body gave out. Consciousness slipped from his grasp.

The Alpha darkside spirit turned its gaze toward the girl. "Now it's your turn, little one. I have no use for that brat. It's time I devour you and get out of here before the Shinras show up."

"No... not again..." the girl whispered, tears forming in her eyes. "Don't tell me he's dead… Why does everyone I meet always end up dying?"

In a flash of desperation, she launched the completed spell—a blazing spark of light—straight into the darkside spirit's eyes.

"Agh! What the—!?" the darkside spirit recoiled, blinded. The light was so intense that even the girl had to shield her own eyes.

"This is bad… I thought I could focus the blinding spell only on him. I didn't expect it to hit me too," she muttered, struggling to see.

Five seconds passed.

The light faded.

The Alpha darkside spirit's grin returned. "It's over, girl."

He lunged forward and snatched her in his monstrous arms. His spine stretched unnaturally, forming a barbed tail that poised itself like a spear above her.

"Now DIE—!"

The tail halted mid-air.

Something was holding it back.

"What…!?"

He turned around.

Alfie—bloody, battered, barely standing—was clinging to the monster's tail with both hands, veins bulging with strain. "I won't… let you hurt her, you monster!!" he yelled, teeth clenched through the pain.

"Get lost, you worthless vessel!" the spirit snarled, flinging Alfie away with a flick of his tail. Alfie hit the ground hard and tumbled several feet before stopping, groaning.

"Hey, boy!" the girl shouted. "I don't even know your name—but you've done enough! Just run! Don't die for me!"

Alfie pushed himself up slowly, blood dripping from his temple, sword in hand.

"I will never abandon a human. Never in my life," he growled. "I'm not a Shinra… but I believe I already am one in spirit!"

He sprinted forward with every ounce of strength left in him, sliding on one knee and slicing through the darkside spirit's ankle. The monster roared in pain and released the girl.

Before she could hit the ground, Alfie caught her in his arms.

Covered in blood and bruises, he looked up with fire in his eyes. "I'm not going down without a fight."

The darkside spirit staggered back, glaring. "That sword… How did it cut me? That's impossible!"

"I call it the Sword of Justice," Alfie said through ragged breath. "I forged it to eliminate every last one of you... and you're going to be the first."

"Hahahaha! Not bad, kid," the Alpha darkside spirit sneered. "But I know exactly how to deal with foolish, stubborn boys like you. I'll rip your limbs apart and hang your corpse at the town gate!"

"Let's see you try," Alfie snapped.

"Hey—nice catch," the girl muttered, cheeks flushed. "But... you're kind of touching somewhere important. Do you mind putting me down?"

"Ah—! Sorry!" Alfie stammered as he quickly set her down.

She dusted herself off. "That wound you gave it—it's already healed. If it keeps regenerating like this, we're screwed."

"Then we cut until it can't heal anymore," Alfie replied, charging forward once more.

"Look out!" she shouted. "It's attacking from above!"

Sharp black rock-like shards rained down from the sky. Alfie tried to dodge, but several of them slammed into his body, breaking bones and knocking him to the ground. He screamed in agony.

"That was just a little trick," the Alpha darkside spirit said darkly. "I'm not even trying yet. Entertain me, little Renshi girl. And you, empty vessel."

"Don't you dare call him that!!" the girl shouted, stepping forward. "He's got more heart and fight in him than you ever will! You're the real empty vessel—devouring others just to feel whole."

Fury ignited in her Renshi. She summoned twin swords and an ethereal armor, her purple energy pulsing like thunderclouds.

"Let's dance, monster," she said.

The Alpha darkside spirit smirked. "Now this... this is going to be fun."